Jeff Ream Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Tennis, table tennis, and badminton all use an instrument to hit an object across a net. They are all similar sports but try going to a tennis match and saying "Oh, this is ping-pong." Imagine that the international table tennis association decided to change it's instrumentation, it's table layout, and it's judging to that of tennis so that it could gain market share. Worse, imagine that table-tennis changed its instrument to use a small racket instead of a paddle. The fans of these sports know full well what the differences are between those sports, but you guys claim people are too stupid to know the difference between a GOOD high school band and a drum corps. Do you think that the average non-musical person won't tell a difference between the best HS band you can think of and Blue Devils or Cadets or Crown? If you answer that they will tell a difference, they'll likely want to know what's different, why they don't hear and see THAT on Friday nights in the fall, or even THAT at their schools BOA contest. When they ask, they'll certainly find out and, at that moment, they know drum corps is different from marching band. The question on the table is whether or not becoming "The King of Bands" will put BITS at shows, not more players trying out. We now turn away far more at auditions than we have space for, so more marchers is not the issue. Building corps and collecting more fees from more kids, and selling more tickets to their parents, is the goal. What does GH care about looking like marching band? He turns away hundreds now. Is getting more kids to tryouts the real goal? Only if you believe the other goal of his: increasing membership to over 200. 50 additional members equates to $162,000 in member fees -- to a $1.2million corps. Getting their parents at shows is worth, at best, $25,000 in ticket sales and, at best, $25,000 in souvie sales. Really? Getting more kids by looking more like marching band is the savior to drum corps? Really? How? I believe that GH has ulterior motives for drum corps looking more like marching band. But, that aside, does becoming "The King of Bands" accomplish the goal of providing long-term growth to the activity? How? yes but adding those 50 members adds more than $162k in expenses. He cares about bands because what USBands fees dont go to cover the show, goes into YEA's coffers and hopefully gets more kids to come to camps, and hopefully several camps before final cuts are made Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 if they have a band program where band camp overlaps the drum corps season, they do indeed have the power to dictate what their students can do in the summer. MikeD.... Last week you stated on DCP that you were adamant that no Corps should have the right to restict in any manner whatsover a marcher's choice to audition with another Corps. Now here you are today in full suppport of a BAND Director's authority to not only restrict a Corps member, but to actually deny the marcher from participating.... (in their own summers when school is off too)...... in DCI Drum Corps at all. My gosh... do you even realize the hypocrisy in such a position ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Windish Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 (edited) The goal is to provide the most effective "hook" to all who have some interest in buying this product, not just those who already have interest due to having already bought the product. We have those folks. For others, millions of others, the message needs to be "here's a product you know, but did you know this is the very BEST of that product?" In other words, there's beef, and there's Wagyu beef. They're both still beef, but if you like beef, you really should experience this. It's the absolute best beef experience, available at a stadium near you! Edited April 2, 2013 by Fred Windish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 (edited) Everything about the G7 discussion seems to get exaggerated What might ruin drum corps more surely is envisioning the future as a snapshot from the past. Yes, and "exaggerating " that most Drum Corps fans want to go back to a distant past can be just as ruinous to serious discussion as to how we might be best able to turn around an activity that has seen its numbers of participants as well as the number of fans over the last few decades ..(" from the past ") ...decline during the DCI era. Edited April 2, 2013 by BRASSO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfield Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 (edited) I know this, anyone who wants to sell a better facial tissue, and at greater amount than what is now being sold, MUST still present themselves to everyone as Kleenex. That's all. No they don't. They need to show how their brand is BETTER than Kleenex. They need to emphasize what DIFFERENTIATES and is UNIQUE about their product. Here's a sales pitch: "We're exactly like Kleenex! Same quality, same price. Try us!" Why would you bother? Edited April 2, 2013 by garfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfield Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 the message needs to be "here's a product you know, but did you know this is the very BEST of that product?" I According to Slingerland you're just alienating all the band directors that we want to believe we're not better than. (Sorry for the preposition, Boo.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfield Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 The goal is to provide the most effective "hook" to all who have some interest in buying this product, not just those who already have interest due to having already bought the product. We have those folks. For others, millions of others, the message needs to be "here's a product you know, but did you know this is the very BEST of that product?" In other words, there's beef, and there's Wagyu beef. They're both still beef, but if you like beef, you really should experience this. It's the absolute best beef experience, available at a stadium near you! And how is making Wagyu beef just like "regular" beef that most-effective hook? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 (edited) It wasn't at one time, when instrumentation, and style of performance were different (up until the 80s most bands were show bands). But the activity is now band. I agree with you Mike! I do envision a day in the not too distant future where both camps of current day DCI Marching Bands fans ( or Drum Corps if one still prefers ) will be happy with the moniker of full acceptance that todays DCI units are in fact " Marching Bands " and that yesterdays DCI units... were in fact "Drum & Bugle Corps." While it may not be all that much of a thing with the non familiar, I do believe that proponents and supporters would like to acknowledge that there is a big difference, and that what is on the field now are" DCI Marching Bands", primarily made up of those from the High School and College Band community, and what transpired in earlier DCI were really not " Marching Bands " at all, but" Drum Corps" as conventionally understood. Perhaps we have already reached that stage. If so, then it will be incumbent on these" DCI Marching Bands" to see if they can turn the participation decline levels around as well as the loss of popularity around from when we once had with " Drum & Bugle Corps " in DCI and not today's ( or the near future ) acknowledged" DCI Marching Bands" that primarily now serve as a summer adjunct to the High School and College "Marching Bands ". I know some people ( mostly younger in age ) that do not want their DCI unit called a " Drum & Bugle Corps ", and I believe that they are entitled to that right. Conversely, there are also lots of former participants in "Drum Corps " ( generally older ) that do not want their former participation years ago to be referred to as participation with a " Marching Band ", and not that of participation in a " Drum & Bugle Corps". I believe that we should respect their wishes too re. what they participated in... or what future marchers will be participating in... and come to a reasonable and sensible consensus as to what it is you marched in. I marched in a " Drum & Bugle Corps ". It clearly was not a " Marching Band " as the term is conventionally understood. That said, as others here have articulated, it is alright and even preferable now that as we utilize more and more of the instrumentation, dance routines, ethos, vibe, etc of the High School and College Marching Bands, it is perferable to acknowledge that we have arrived.. or about too... where we now have DCI Marching Bands competing..... and begin to market it as such to as its proper branding now with the public. Edited April 2, 2013 by BRASSO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Windish Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 (edited) No they don't. They need to show how their brand is BETTER than Kleenex. They need to emphasize what DIFFERENTIATES and and is UNIQUE about their product. Here's a sales pitch: "We're exactly like Kleenex! Same quality, same price. Try us!" Why would you bother? garfield, In my mind, unless potential customers understand what you offer is not just Kleenex (something they totally understand already) but an even better Kleenex, you will continue to keep them guessing as to whether they even want your product. Calling your product a "nose item," even if your "nose item" does a better job at what others do, the Kleenex products everyone already knows, is a more difficult sell. Edited April 2, 2013 by Fred Windish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Tennis, table tennis, and badminton all use an instrument to hit an object across a net. They are all similar sports but try going to a tennis match and saying "Oh, this is ping-pong." Imagine that the international table tennis association decided to change it's instrumentation, it's table layout, and it's judging to that of tennis so that it could gain market share. Worse, imagine that table-tennis changed its instrument to use a small racket instead of a paddle. The fans of these sports know full well what the differences are between those sports, but you guys claim people are too stupid to know the difference between a GOOD high school band and a drum corps. Do you think that the average non-musical person won't tell a difference between the best HS band you can think of and Blue Devils or Cadets or Crown? If you answer that they will tell a difference, they'll likely want to know what's different, why they don't hear and see THAT on Friday nights in the fall, or even THAT at their schools BOA contest. When they ask, they'll certainly find out and, at that moment, they know drum corps is different from marching band. The question on the table is whether or not becoming "The King of Bands" will put BITS at shows, not more players trying out. We now turn away far more at auditions than we have space for, so more marchers is not the issue. Building corps and collecting more fees from more kids, and selling more tickets to their parents, is the goal. What does GH care about looking like marching band? He turns away hundreds now. Is getting more kids to tryouts the real goal? Only if you believe the other goal of his: increasing membership to over 200. 50 additional members equates to $162,000 in member fees -- to a $1.2million corps. Getting their parents at shows is worth, at best, $25,000 in ticket sales and, at best, $25,000 in souvie sales. Really? Getting more kids by looking more like marching band is the savior to drum corps? Really? How? I believe that GH has ulterior motives for drum corps looking more like marching band. But, that aside, does becoming "The King of Bands" accomplish the goal of providing long-term growth to the activity? How? The more accepted DCI is by the scholastic music programs (i.e. band directors), the more those directors will bring busloads of kids to shows...BITS. The reason the BD are so good has nothing to do with the instrumentation and everything to do with the skills of the performers and staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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